– As Pharmanews Wins Best Pharma Publication
The Society for Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing of Nigeria (SPSMN) on Thursday, 26 September, 2024, inducted new Fellows into its fold. The event which took place at the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, also witnessed the conferment of awards on distinguished personalities who have contributed to the growth and development of the society.
Among the awardees was the Guest of Honour and Publisher of Pharmanews, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, who was conferred with the SPSMN Life-Time Platinum Award as well as the SPSMN Award of Recognition for his outstanding contribution to the development of pharmaceutical sales and marketing in Nigeria. The SPSMN Award for the Best Pharmaceutical Publication went to Pharmanews for 45 years of journalistic excellence in the Nigerian health sector.
Atueyi enjoined the SPSMN to continue to nurture the vision of bringing together sales and marketing professionals, including pharmacists and non-pharmacists, from diverse pharmaceutical companies under one strategic umbrella aimed at optimising the sales and marketing goals of the industry. He expressed happiness that the SPSMN is doing a great job and called for more support for the President, Pharm. Tunde Oyeniran, whom he described as a man with God-given vision.
“God gives a vision to one man but one man cannot execute or actualise the vision alone. He needs people to help him carry out that vision. Something good is happening in sales and marketing in Nigeria that is why God has given Oyeniran the vision and the people to help actualise the vision. I thank God that the vision to bring pharmaceutical sales and marketing professionals together has been actualised by Oyeniran,” he said.
Other awardees were Chief Bunmi Olaopa, former GMD, Evans Medical PLC, (SPSMN Life-Time Platinum Award); Mr Life Oyakhilome of Fidson Healthcare PLC (SPSMN Medical Sales Rep 2024); Mr Babatunde Olatunbosun of Fidson Healthcare PLC (SPSMN Regional Sales Manager 2024); LAMED Pharmacy Jos (SPSMN Distributor of the Year 2024) and SUVITRA 500mg and 700mg of Micro Nova Pharmaceuticals (SPSMN Brand of the Year 2024). Managing Director of Fidson Healthcare PLC, Dr Fidelis Ayebae clinched the SPSMN CEO of the Year 2024 Award.
Speaking on the awards, SPSMN’s Director of Public Communication and External Relations, said the awardees were carefully selected based on their reputation and contribution in the sales and marketing segment of the pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria. He added that the SPSMN would continue to foster a culture of excellence in the pharmaceutical sales and marketing space.
Earlier at the Induction/Investiture of Fellows ceremony, keynote speaker, Dr George Thorpe, harped on the need to apply innovative survival strategies by sales and marketing professionals in turbulent times. His presentation themed “Pharmaceutical Sales & Marketing in Nigeria: Professionalism and Thriving in Turbulent Times” focused on Identifying opportunities and marshalling resources for aggressive outcomes as well as the integration of marketing and sales plans and efforts for maximum synergy in the pharmaceutical sales and marketing sector.
Using the Panadol brand story as a case study, Thorpe emphasised the importance of innovative thinking and the mobilisation of resources in achieving profitable growth in times of turbulence. He added that despite the prevailing economic challenges characterised by inflation and the continuous weakening of the naira, proper and strategic sales and marketing plans can bail pharmaceutical companies out from the conundrum of loss and unprofitability.
Seven honorary Fellows, fifteen new fellows and nine new members were inducted into the SPSMN family. The honorary Fellows were Mr Mahesh Vaswani; Pharm. Ade Popoola; Pharm. Sola Solarin and Pharm. Olanike Kolawole. Others were Alhaji Sayyidi Lawal Atana; Pharm. Akintunde Onadele and Shihan Pharm. Victor Akhimien.
The new Fellows were Dr Olusegun A. Oyeyemi; Pharm. Ifeoma Elekwechi; Pharm. Babajide A. Otubanjo; HRM Oba Bamidele Obaitan; Dr Ibrahim s. Abu; Mr Gbenga Olayemi; Dr Leonard Ugheighele; Dr Emecheta Obinna; Ogunleye L. Chinyere and Oluyomi O. Daniels. Others were Edeh P. Chigozie; Razak A. Adewale; Folorunso A. Alaran; Hussain Adebayo and Pharm. Opeyemi Ogungbire.
The new members were Olaoye F. Sunday; Samuel O. Ayorinde; Lawal W. Adewale; Pharm. Nnamdi J. Nwosisi; Egbe O. Shegun; Ejike G. Onuorah; and Akpabio I. Bassey. Others were Obeto N. Paul and Awatt B. Auquo.
Congratulating the new inductees, President of the SPSMN, Pharm. Tunde Oyeniran, urged them to be good ambassadors of the Society, adding that they should uphold the highest standard of professionalism, ethics and sound knowledge in their roles as pharmaceutical sales and marketing professionals by ensuring the safe and appropriate use of medications and contributing to and promoting safer drug practices through effective communication and education, among other oaths of the Society.
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